Elizabeth Olsen told InStyle magazine as part of a new cover story that she no longer appears in Hollywood studio films that aren’t guaranteed a theatrical release. Olsen, a darling of indie films since starting her career with 2011’s Martha Marcy May Marine, has no qualms about starring in movies that are sold to streamers without distribution. However, her preference has always been the theatrical release.
“If the movies are produced independently and sold only to streamers, that’s fine. But we don’t want[streaming]to be the end product,” Olsen said. “I think it’s important for people to come together as a community and see other humans and be in the same space. That’s why I love sports. I think it’s really powerful for people to come together for something that they’re excited about. We don’t even audition in person anymore.”
Since her last appearance as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Scarlet Witch in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Olsen has only made indie films, including 2023’s Three Daughters, 2024’s The Assessment, and the upcoming A24 romantic comedy Eternity. Only “His Three Daughters” was backed by a streamer (in this case, Netflix), but had a theatrical release that allowed it to win awards in select theaters.
Olsen knows a thing or two about the MCU’s ability to draw millions of people to movie theaters, having played Scarlet Witch in the MCU since her debut in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s post-credits scene.
“It’s fun to make movies. It’s goofy. It’s ridiculous. We’re adults like kids on the playground,” Olsen told InStyle about the MCU. “We’re flying. We’re shooting things out of our hands. And after more than a decade, it’s a character that I keep coming back to. It’s nice to leave her behind, but then I miss her and want her back. I’d jump at the chance to be in her shoes again.”
Olsen added of the MCU’s strength: “It’s the community and the consistency of the work, and that’s hard to find. There’s crazy camera movement, stunt work and special effects, visual effects that happen in real time. There’s a lot of coordination, there’s hundreds of people on set, but it’s powerful to be part of a group of people working toward one goal. The people who do visual effects are artists…soul, spirit, heart is fulfilled doing it.” It does mean something. I care about whether the acting is great or not, but everyone does. ”
The Doctor Strange sequel will be Olsen’s last direct appearance for Marvel as Scarlet Witch. She recently gained attention for her voice role in the Disney+ animated series Marvel Zombies. Her next film is Eternity, co-starring Miles Teller and Callum Turner. A24’s film puts a fantasy twist on the romantic comedy genre by setting it in the afterlife, where a recently deceased person has one week to decide with whom they will spend eternity. Olsen’s Joan must decide between her first love and the man she has built her life with.
“Eternity” will be released in theaters on Thanksgiving this year.
